Qingyan Ci — Chapter Twenty-One

Tang Jin fell into a hazy dream that night. In the dream, a young man was dressed in ancient official robes. His thin, fragile figure resembled Tang Xiao’s, yet he couldn’t be sure. The face of the man who looked like Tang Xiao kept shifting between clarity and blurriness. There seemed to be another man entangled in the scene; whenever Tang Jin looked at this second person, his heart would ache with a sense of lingering resentment—a feeling he couldn't quite put into words.

Around six in the evening, Tang Xiao drove back to his home in Long’an City and parked in the garage. He checked his watch—the anniversary couple’s watch (M.C.’s men’s model, "Heart’s Radiance"). He hadn't worn it in front of Ye Jin, fearing it might cause her mental pressure or lead to misunderstandings. Whether he was truly afraid of her misunderstanding or afraid to face the truth himself, Tang Xiao wasn't sure. He didn't even know what his feelings for Ye Jin were, or if he were to meet Xing Ruo again, whether he would still feel that raw, youthful secret love.

The elevator chimed at the seventh floor. Tang Xiao stepped out and pressed his fingerprint to the lock of apartment 702. As he stood in the living room, he fell into deep thought. This was his home, yet it felt like a stranger's place. After graduating from university, he had spent over a year working at his cousin's company. With his parents always busy, he felt more at home in the apartment near the office.

He returned to his bedroom, unpacked his clothes, and habitually opened his laptop. Realizing he had already left his previous job, he closed the work后台 and went to fetch a bottle of mineral water, aimlessly scrolling through his phone. He felt less comfortable here than at his grandparents' house; the distance from his parents had left their bond somewhat thin. Bored, he scrolled through short videos—content he used to scoff at as a waste of time. He wondered what position his father, Tang Youming, would assign him at the company. Perhaps due to the fatigue of driving or the boredom of the videos, he soon fell asleep at his desk.

"Chenxi, I entrust Xiao Wei to you. Do not let him recognize the Sun family. Raise him as your own child, teach him how to be a man, and let him care for you in your old age... My time is running out. Thank you for your care in this life; I have nothing to repay you with, so I shall do so in the next." A woman spoke, her voice filled with lingering attachment as she departed in tears.

"Xiu, wake up!" Despite the cries, she was gone.

"Ah!" Tang Xiao jolted awake. His hands and legs were numb, and to his surprise, he found tears streaming down his face. It was such a strange dream. Who was the woman? Why was her face blurred, and why did he remember calling out "Xiu"? The dream left him feeling inexplicably sad. The woman’s dress—a tight-fitting top with a skirt, wide sleeves, and a loose hem—was a mystery he tried to search for online to identify the dynasty.

"Xiao Long, son, are you back?" Hearing his mother's voice, Tang Xiao quickly shut his laptop.

"Mom, you're back so soon?" he asked without checking the time.

"It's already nine o'clock. Do you have a cold? You sound strange," his mother asked while changing her shoes.

"No, I just got back, no one was home, and I fell asleep at the desk," he replied honestly.

"Why didn't you rest on the bed? Sorry, the meeting ran late. You haven't eaten yet, right? Let's go out for dinner!"

"It's okay, Mom. Are you tired?" Tang Xiao asked, trying to steer the conversation away to ease her guilt.

They drove to a Western restaurant. Tang Xiao, 178cm tall and 68kg, looked sharp in his usual shirt and trousers. Once he was in "work mode," he tended to block out the world, though he could become irritable if data was unstable. At the restaurant, his father, Tang Youming, joined them. Seeing the mother and son chatting, he looked pleased.

"Xiao Long, are you getting used to being back?" his father asked.

"It feels like returning to my university days during winter and summer breaks," Tang Xiao replied.

"There is a saying: gold will shine wherever it is placed. Different environments broaden your horizons. Whether you are a frog in a well or an eagle soaring over a peak is all a matter of your own will," his father remarked, his words clearly meant as guidance.

"Let's eat first! It's been so long since we saw our son, why talk about these things?" his mother interceded.

That night, after the family sat down to watch the news, his mother broke the silence. "Son, start working with your father tomorrow."

"Here is the plan," Tang Youming added. "Start by submitting your resume. Recruitment, onboarding, training—do it just like any other new hire. The company only recruits those with ability. I believe in you!"

His mother protested, but Tang Xiao agreed. "I understand, Dad. I support your decision. I need to start from the grassroots to understand how to balance management later. It’s better for both me and the company."

His father patted his shoulder, pleased. "You've grown into a man. Don't mention you're my son at the company. Relying on connections to reach a management position would be a failure. Rely on your own ability, understand?"

The next day, Tang Xiao submitted his resume to the Qing Shanzheng Group, a process he realized was incredibly rigorous. Coincidentally, Wang Mian, a former top salesperson, had also joined the company and was currently in training.

That evening, his mother received a call from his aunt, Tang Suqing, the founder of the M.C. brand. She was in a bind: a celebrity model had backed out of a shoot, and she needed someone to stand in. She asked if Tang Xiao could help. Initially hesitant, his mother eventually agreed under the condition that Tang Xiao would not show his face, as he was busy applying for jobs.

Tang Xiao arrived at the M.C. headquarters the next morning. He was introduced to the photographer and given a wig to cover his short hair. With his face partially obscured or shot from the side, he began the shoot. His aunt was pleased with his professionalism.

As the shoot progressed, the photographer noted how well Tang Xiao carried the clothes. His aunt later asked him if he would be willing to show his face for the "couple's series" shoot, which would feature the popular young actress Zheng Mu'an. Tang Xiao, after discussing it with his father and feeling the pressure of his own job hunt, agreed to use an alias, "Tong," for the modeling work.

As he lay in his hotel bed that night, he looked up Zheng Mu'an. She had a certain resemblance to Ye Jin, though she was more delicate and petite. Thinking of Ye Jin, he checked his job application status again, only to find it still unread. A mix of anxiety and newfound responsibility washed over him. He called his father, who encouraged him to maintain a "humble, empty-cup mentality." With his father's blessing and a clear path forward, Tang Xiao felt ready to face the challenges of both his new modeling venture and his future career at the company.